GUWAHATI, March 14 � Opposition members today took the Government to task over �growing encroachment� on Assam�s borderland by the neighbouring States of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. They also called for an all-party House committee chaired by the Speaker to assess the deteriorating situation arising out of encroachment in the border areas.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Keshab Mahanta (AGP) said that the Assam Government�s weak stand on this crucial issue had emboldened the neighbouring States to go on encroaching on its land.
Pointing out that the State has a 2,275-km-long border with neighbouring States spread over 20 districts, Mahanta said encroachment was taking place in 16 districts. Even in the Dispur revenue circle, 40 hectares are under illegal occupation of Meghalaya, he added.
Accusing the State Government of using one pretext or the other to justify its silence and inaction on the issue even while its own people were passing sleepless nights for want of security, Mahanta said it had all along been misleading the people by citing the plea that many of the border areas fell on reserve forests whereas border reserve forests existed only in four revenue circles in the districts of Golaghat, Lakhimpur and Tinsukia.
Padma Hazarika (AGP) also accused the Government of misleading the people, saying that there was no �sub-judice� boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal and that encroachment was taking place in an unabated manner at Bhalukpong and Bihpuria areas due to the laxity of the State Government. He also regretted that no border minister cared to visit the border areas.
At this point, the Speaker, Pranab Gogoi, said that the Border Area Development Minister should visit the border areas.
Rupjyoti Kurmi (Congress) said that the aggressive designs of Nagaland were in consonance with its plan for a �Greater Nagalim�.
Kurmi added that on the other hand Nagaland ministers and officials routinely visited the border areas on their side.
Border Area Development Minister Siddique Ahmed said that the State Government was maintain status quo in consonance with the Supreme Court guidelines concerning the Assam-Nagaland border and that no fresh case of encroachment had been reported.
Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that the State Government was abiding by the Supreme Court directives over the border disputes and that it was hopeful of getting a favourable verdict from the apex court as it had a strong case.
